Re: Windmills

Dutch windmills probably not very efficient. I've seen video of an
Aquacat with a modern windmill geard to a water propellor, and yes, it
would go straight upwind. Just make sure you don't stand up while underway!

>Nels wrote:
>
>I have been intrigued by the sails on Dutch windmills and their
>variants. How they ulitized slots, self reefing, air brake systems
>and other controls to keep then turning at a more or less constant
>speed and pointing into the wind. I wonder if they were ever tried on
>a boat? It should be able to sail directly into the wind, and reach
>as well, but then might not go downwind at all:-) Go here and scroll
>well down the page: See the variant that connects directly to the
>water with a sloped shaft!
>
>http://webserv.nhl.nl/~smits/windmill.htm
>
>Nels
>